Means for landing floating lumber-rafts



(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

. D. W. MoELROY.

I MEANS FOR LANDING FLOATING LUMBER RAFTS. No. 267,795.

Patented Nov. 21, 1882. N

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U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID W. MGELROY, OF KEOKUK, IOWA.

MEANS FOR LANDING FLOATING LUMBER-RAFTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,795, dated November 21, 1882.

Application filed October4, I882. lNomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1,1). \V. MCELROY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Keokuk, in the county of Lee and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Landing Floating Lumber-Rafts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to means for drawing from the water and cleansing rafted lumber of sand and dirt.

It is well known that sawed lumber in some lumbering districts is'largely made up into rafts at the mills on yards where manufac tured and then rafted by floating or otherwise to market upon the streams leading thereto; On arrivalat market thelumber must be drawn from the water and cleansed of accumulated mud and sand before sorting and piling. This has heretofore been accomplished, as the raft lay in the water at the landing, by the slow process of scrubbing with brooms and dashing water with buckets, which is expensive and disagreeable work, because so much of the labor has to be done in the water.

To obviate the difliculties, lessen the expense and labor, and at the same time wash the lumber cleaner than by the old plan are the objects of my invention.

My invention therefore consists in the novel organization and construction of parts,.as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the inclined way, carrying means, and motive power. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the inclined way and the operating mechanism. Fig.3 is a side view of the same, and Fig. 4 are detail views.

The letter A represents the driving-shaft, on which is arranged the driving-wheel B, suitabl yconnected with the power, and on this shaft is also arranged the sprocket-wheel O.

- The letter D represents an endless chain, the links of which engage with the sprocket of the wheel 0, and at the lower end the chain suitably arranged near the lower end of the inclined way, and the chain is further sustained and guided by running over the intermediate carrying-sheaves E and h, pivotally arranged at about the upper end of the inclined way of V the platform.

The letter Gr represents the rail of the inclined way and platform, made of such length and strength as to meet the uses and strains to which they may be subjected. On these rails or sills are pivotally arranged at proper distances apart the rollers H, having their bearing-surface extending a short distance above the upper surlace of the rails or sills, in

order to avoid frictional contact between the The letter I represents the drawing-chain,

manila, hemp, or wire rope, which fits about the raft or a section thereof. It may be made of manila, hemp, wire rope, or consist of a strong chain. At the forward end ot'this loop is attached a pulley block and hook, K, the loop of which engages with a link in the endless chain and constitutes the connection by which the lumber is drawn up in position for being washed. I

A force-pump or any other suitable engine, actuated by the power operating the mechanism of the draw, is used to throw the water on the lumber; or the pump can be operated independently of the drawing means.

The engine and appliances may be m'adestationary, or they can be portable and supplied with suitable means for securing the different parts in position to meet the end intended.

The operation of hauling the lumber from the Water onto the inclined way and platform is effected by running or adjusting the rope or chain I about the raft, or a section thereof, and then engaging the hook ofthe pulley K in a link of the endless chain, and then applying the power, the lumber in bulk is drawn up out of the water onto the inclined way and platform until the desired location is reached, when the water is thrown on the lumber from the hose and washed until clean, after which it is ready to be sorted and disposed of as may be required.

too

2 I Y wanes The rails or sills of thedrawway may be disposed at the upper end so as to form a level onto which the lumber is drawn and rests.

I claim the right to vary the parts without departing from the spirit of my invention.

WhatI claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a driving-shaft carrying a sprocketwheel, an endless chain actuated by said sprocketwheel and traveling around a turning sheave at the other end and over sheaves and inclined rails provided with anti-friction rollers, substantially as described.

2. In combination with an endless chain and side rails provided with anti-friction rollers on the sides thereof, a pulley block and hook, and a manila, hemp, or wire rope or chain adapted to go around a lumber-raft, substantially as described. I

3. The combination, with a raft oflumber and a manila, hemp, or wire rope or chain adapted to tit around the raft orasection thereof, and provided with a pulley block and hook at the forward end, of an endless chain and an inclined way and platform formed of rails provided with anti-friction rollers arranged on the sides thereof, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with a raft of lumber and a manila, hemp, or wire rope or chain adapted to fit around the raft or a section thereof, and provided with a pulley block and hook at the forward end, of an endless chain and an inclined way and platform lormed of rails provided with anti-friction rollers arranged on the sides, as described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID W. MCELROY.

Witnesses:

L. H. AYER, CHAS. H. SELLERS. 

